Pure Gold
A light effervescent beer with initial bitterness coming from the choicest Czech hops, leading to a sweet full malty flavour, complimented by strong aromatic hop notes gathered from American speciality hops.
Tasting notes
Black Hawk Down film “A bright golden beer with a stunning aroma of pineapple, grapefruit and resin-like hop. The hop flavours are full and juicy, with pineapple, grapefruit and a rounded bitterness drowning out an initial sweetish note. The finish is dry, strongly hoppy and fruit”.
Jeff Evans, Good Bottled Beer Guide
Botched divx Ring of Death move
“This is one of several bottle-conditioned ales produced by this Hampshire microbrewery. It pours a dark golden colour, with a frothy, white, short-lived head (and a touch of haze, because we inadvertently mixed in a bit of the conditioning yeast). Aroma is lightly malty, with straw-like hop notes and touches of fruit and vanilla. In the mouth the attack is bitter, rapidly leading into an explosion of citrus notes – lemons, limes, oranges and pineapple. The hop notes seem to become more resiny towards the finish, perhaps with a hint of grapefruit and even a phenolic, medicinal lightness. It is quite dry throughout, although the light malt adds a gentle touch of sweetness and there is some sourness around the tongue. Aftertaste is hoppy and fruity. The low carbonation, which seems to be a trademark of this brewery’s BCAs, combined with its balance of cleanness and complexity, makes this beer very smooth and enjoyably drinkable”.
The Oxford Bottled Beer Database
“Itchen Valley Brewery was founded in 1997 and from its base in New Alresford makes a play of its proximity to the ancient capital of England in some of its beer names. Winchester Ale, for instance, is one of the seasonal offerings, while Wykehams Glory has connections to famous Winchester College. Out of its fermenters also runs an unusual blonde beer called Pure Gold. We’ll take the ‘pure’ bit as relating to St. Swithen and use it to celebrate his largely forgotten life.
“What’s peculiar about this beer is the fact that hops are added not only in the copper as the wort is boiled, but also in the fermenter while the yeast is performing miracles of its own. The main, rather gentle, hops used for a spicy bitterness are Czech Saazs, but in the fermenter go notoriously citrus Cascades from America, so expect a Starburst-like drenching of juicy grapefruit and pineapple flavours from aroma to finish. The beer is available in both cask – and bottle – conditioned forms, so if the sun is shining, you can drink one on tap today, and if it’s looking a bit grim outside, you can put a bottle – or 40 – aside for a rainy day.”
Jeff Evans, A Beer A Day